Google has signed a three-year agreement with virtual power plant operator Voltus to secure up to 100 MW of capacity across the PJM Interconnection grid. The agreement aims to support growing electricity demand while improving grid flexibility through distributed energy resources.
Under the Bring Your Own Capacity (BYOC) agreement, Voltus will aggregate capacity from batteries, smart thermostats, and other flexible energy assets owned by businesses and households. The company will combine these resources into a virtual power plant funded by Google and compensate participating customers for providing capacity to the grid.
The virtual power plant will operate as a decentralized energy resource. Voltus will dispatch participating assets during periods of high demand to reduce grid stress and increase available capacity. The approach allows grid operators to access additional resources without constructing new generation facilities.
The agreement covers the PJM Interconnection region, which serves parts of the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest. Google and Voltus said the program could provide a model for meeting rising power demand from data centers through greater use of distributed energy resources. If successful, the companies may expand the approach to other markets across the United States.